Business Outlook: March 2009
Overview
During this challenging period one may assume that the undertaking of action in the business sphere will be born out of one of four premises:
1) Predictably, the heaviest and likeliest most powerful premise is that a bad economy will continue to drive tight capital situations and an enormous reticence regarding spending. Managers will more than ever see their task as financial conservation, and they will sniff out most any form of creative speculation or perceived excess and grind it under their heels. Anything that smacks of risk is a non-starter these days, and only the most fearless of CEOs and corporate boards will dip their toes in the deep spending end of the risk/reward possibility pool.
2) It's probably not something that does much good to talk about, but the second premise is that the consumer is scared to death about his/her assets and craves assurance of material security. Fortunately, complete hopelessness has yet to set in, but the hope that does exist is being polluted by messengers promulgating an immature and irrational belief in the very quick fix. There is much potential danger here when the reality of time fully sets in... particularly for leaders/authorities who promise to deliver far too much far too soon (more on this below).
3) Perhaps the most optimistic premise is that there actually may be a genius or two (they will not come by the dozens) available in the corridors of authority who will simply work out what we have to do or, at the very least, what we have to understand in order to thrive. What we are collectively looking for are leaders who are capable of short-timing history through the exercise of personal will and skill. It's wishful thinking, but astrological conditions suggest it's not entirely implausible.
4) It's the most subtle of premises, but it also just may be the most authentic and valuable. Right now, so goes the astrology, a key premise in the marketplace is the presence of a collective aspiration to beat back our troubles through the force of communal will. While the linear thinkers and the data collectors might blanch at such a notion, this is a force that does not particularly benefit from rational scrutiny and is really best identified as spiritual in nature. Alas, while astrology hints at the existence of this hopeful communal power it also indicates that we don't quite know how it should or must manifest. Here is where some consideration of patience, courage, faith and particularly the concept of grace figure in. Or maybe we could just crunch some numbers.
All of the preceding is of relevance because this March we seem to arrive at a difficult crossroads that pits much of the current experience of leadership against the evolving emotions, spiritual yearnings and collective will of the public. Inhibited from formulating deeply constructive plans by a most difficult and uncertain marketplace, the indication is that there are many "authorities" who will try to bluff and bluster their way through this period with strident (yet ill-founded) certainty and clarion calls to (premature) action. In times that call for nothing so much as mature sobriety regarding long-term cycles, astrology warns of us a flood of ill-informed and precipitous fools who are simultaneously assured of their on-the-fly street smarts and outraged by the prospect of themselves living up to the hugely subjective and self-interested notions and demands they expect others to fulfill.
What is so interesting in the current cosmic conditions is that a populace that has deep well-intentioned expectations of their leadership is so likely to be disappointed right now. Suffering far more than the advantaged members of our society can possibly appreciate, the increasingly disadvantaged general public seems a lot closer to the potential of real inner growth right now. A spiritual wisdom matrix that includes the vanishing of cherished illusions and the testing of inner strength is pointing towards the development of a capacity for resilience...a quality far more virtuous than the glib and trivial egocentricity emanating from leaders who know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
History Rhymes
"Have faith in your dreams and someday..." - When Walt Disney released the movie Cinderella in February of 1950, his company had not had a hit movie in more than a decade. Had it failed, say business pundits, Disney Studios would have been history. But not only did the movie charm audiences, Cinderella was the first instance of a movie in which all musical rights were assiduously protected and in which soundtrack recordings were aggressively merchandised...leading to exceptional incremental profits. The real point right here, though, is that in March of 2009 we are all feeling a bit Cinderella-ish in the time before the prince and the glass slipper thing. True fans of the Cinderella story will recall that Cinderella was doing quite well before the stepmother thing, and that her wealthy father, who dies shortly thereafter, marries Cindy's stepmother primarily to give his daughter a maternal influence. The house in which Cinderella is treated as a domestic servant actually belonged to her father. Cinderella, despite her dreadfully reduced circumstances, of course keeps the faith, performs her ugly chores, befriends singing mice...and her "someday" rainbow eventually comes shining through. All in all, not a bad myth for these times.
The 1997 Masters - If some day astrology achieves any regard as a business tool, I personally want to be remembered for my drum beating regarding the 12-year Jupiter cycle and its usefulness in tracking/predicting broad cultural trends. Two nights ago, I watched a college basketball game between Arizona State University and the U of Arizona, and the student cheering section of the latter all wore shirts which bore the simple message "1997." This was a reference to the school's NCAA championship run in March 1977. Yesterday the big financial market news was the descent of the DJIA to levels it had not seen since the spring of 1997. And now the golf world is abuzz with Tiger Woods return to the tour...exactly on the Jupiter return anniversary of his most famous victory, a 12-shot devastation of the field by a 21 year-old at the 1997 Masters. You really might benefit from paying some attention to this stuff.
James McDougal goes to prison - I have no intention here of parsing Whitewater, the banking/investment scandal that caught up Hillary Clinton, in large part because it is far too politically Byzantine and court intrigue-y for a feeble minded civilian like myself to actually understand. All I want to note here is that a principle figure in the event, a Clinton banker friend by the name of Jim McDougal was, in an astrologically parallel period to this one, sent to jail for bank fraud. Banker beware.
Strange Days
March 3 - This is one of those days when everyone is going to be hell bent on putting ideas into action. Right now, this instant. So you be the one to make sure that all the facts have been assembled and the acts taken are not totally premature.
March 23/24 - There is bound to be unusually strong sexual tension in the work world early this week. This will not manifest well for everyone, although some are going to be granted their steamiest private wish. Expect to see some new spring wardrobe items on display. Expect to see spring on display.
March 30 - It is likely this Monday that everyone who still has a job is going to show up at work and enthusiastically sing some version of "I've Got To Be Me." The resulting ill-will and bedlam is hardly likely to put a smile on anyone's face.
During this challenging period one may assume that the undertaking of action in the business sphere will be born out of one of four premises:
1) Predictably, the heaviest and likeliest most powerful premise is that a bad economy will continue to drive tight capital situations and an enormous reticence regarding spending. Managers will more than ever see their task as financial conservation, and they will sniff out most any form of creative speculation or perceived excess and grind it under their heels. Anything that smacks of risk is a non-starter these days, and only the most fearless of CEOs and corporate boards will dip their toes in the deep spending end of the risk/reward possibility pool.
2) It's probably not something that does much good to talk about, but the second premise is that the consumer is scared to death about his/her assets and craves assurance of material security. Fortunately, complete hopelessness has yet to set in, but the hope that does exist is being polluted by messengers promulgating an immature and irrational belief in the very quick fix. There is much potential danger here when the reality of time fully sets in... particularly for leaders/authorities who promise to deliver far too much far too soon (more on this below).
3) Perhaps the most optimistic premise is that there actually may be a genius or two (they will not come by the dozens) available in the corridors of authority who will simply work out what we have to do or, at the very least, what we have to understand in order to thrive. What we are collectively looking for are leaders who are capable of short-timing history through the exercise of personal will and skill. It's wishful thinking, but astrological conditions suggest it's not entirely implausible.
4) It's the most subtle of premises, but it also just may be the most authentic and valuable. Right now, so goes the astrology, a key premise in the marketplace is the presence of a collective aspiration to beat back our troubles through the force of communal will. While the linear thinkers and the data collectors might blanch at such a notion, this is a force that does not particularly benefit from rational scrutiny and is really best identified as spiritual in nature. Alas, while astrology hints at the existence of this hopeful communal power it also indicates that we don't quite know how it should or must manifest. Here is where some consideration of patience, courage, faith and particularly the concept of grace figure in. Or maybe we could just crunch some numbers.
All of the preceding is of relevance because this March we seem to arrive at a difficult crossroads that pits much of the current experience of leadership against the evolving emotions, spiritual yearnings and collective will of the public. Inhibited from formulating deeply constructive plans by a most difficult and uncertain marketplace, the indication is that there are many "authorities" who will try to bluff and bluster their way through this period with strident (yet ill-founded) certainty and clarion calls to (premature) action. In times that call for nothing so much as mature sobriety regarding long-term cycles, astrology warns of us a flood of ill-informed and precipitous fools who are simultaneously assured of their on-the-fly street smarts and outraged by the prospect of themselves living up to the hugely subjective and self-interested notions and demands they expect others to fulfill.
What is so interesting in the current cosmic conditions is that a populace that has deep well-intentioned expectations of their leadership is so likely to be disappointed right now. Suffering far more than the advantaged members of our society can possibly appreciate, the increasingly disadvantaged general public seems a lot closer to the potential of real inner growth right now. A spiritual wisdom matrix that includes the vanishing of cherished illusions and the testing of inner strength is pointing towards the development of a capacity for resilience...a quality far more virtuous than the glib and trivial egocentricity emanating from leaders who know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
History Rhymes
"Have faith in your dreams and someday..." - When Walt Disney released the movie Cinderella in February of 1950, his company had not had a hit movie in more than a decade. Had it failed, say business pundits, Disney Studios would have been history. But not only did the movie charm audiences, Cinderella was the first instance of a movie in which all musical rights were assiduously protected and in which soundtrack recordings were aggressively merchandised...leading to exceptional incremental profits. The real point right here, though, is that in March of 2009 we are all feeling a bit Cinderella-ish in the time before the prince and the glass slipper thing. True fans of the Cinderella story will recall that Cinderella was doing quite well before the stepmother thing, and that her wealthy father, who dies shortly thereafter, marries Cindy's stepmother primarily to give his daughter a maternal influence. The house in which Cinderella is treated as a domestic servant actually belonged to her father. Cinderella, despite her dreadfully reduced circumstances, of course keeps the faith, performs her ugly chores, befriends singing mice...and her "someday" rainbow eventually comes shining through. All in all, not a bad myth for these times.
The 1997 Masters - If some day astrology achieves any regard as a business tool, I personally want to be remembered for my drum beating regarding the 12-year Jupiter cycle and its usefulness in tracking/predicting broad cultural trends. Two nights ago, I watched a college basketball game between Arizona State University and the U of Arizona, and the student cheering section of the latter all wore shirts which bore the simple message "1997." This was a reference to the school's NCAA championship run in March 1977. Yesterday the big financial market news was the descent of the DJIA to levels it had not seen since the spring of 1997. And now the golf world is abuzz with Tiger Woods return to the tour...exactly on the Jupiter return anniversary of his most famous victory, a 12-shot devastation of the field by a 21 year-old at the 1997 Masters. You really might benefit from paying some attention to this stuff.
James McDougal goes to prison - I have no intention here of parsing Whitewater, the banking/investment scandal that caught up Hillary Clinton, in large part because it is far too politically Byzantine and court intrigue-y for a feeble minded civilian like myself to actually understand. All I want to note here is that a principle figure in the event, a Clinton banker friend by the name of Jim McDougal was, in an astrologically parallel period to this one, sent to jail for bank fraud. Banker beware.
Strange Days
March 3 - This is one of those days when everyone is going to be hell bent on putting ideas into action. Right now, this instant. So you be the one to make sure that all the facts have been assembled and the acts taken are not totally premature.
March 23/24 - There is bound to be unusually strong sexual tension in the work world early this week. This will not manifest well for everyone, although some are going to be granted their steamiest private wish. Expect to see some new spring wardrobe items on display. Expect to see spring on display.
March 30 - It is likely this Monday that everyone who still has a job is going to show up at work and enthusiastically sing some version of "I've Got To Be Me." The resulting ill-will and bedlam is hardly likely to put a smile on anyone's face.
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